Shloka 21
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
पूर्व न समरे होवमवधीदर्जुनो रिपून् इदानीं विक्रमो हास्य कृष्णेन सहितस्य च,'पहले युद्धमें अर्जुन इस प्रकार शत्रुओंका वध नहीं करते थे। इस समय श्रीकृष्णके साथ होनेसे ही इनका पराक्रम बढ़ गया है
sañjaya uvāca | pūrvaṃ na samare hovam avadhīd arjuno ripūn | idānīṃ vikramo hāsya kṛṣṇena sahitasya ca ||
Sañjaya said: “Formerly, in battle, Arjuna did not slay his enemies in such a manner. Now, however, his prowess has increased—because he is accompanied by Kṛṣṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that strength in action—especially in morally fraught contexts like war—can be heightened by righteous counsel and divine alignment; Arjuna’s increased effectiveness is attributed to Kṛṣṇa’s presence and guidance.
Sañjaya reports an observation about the battlefield: Arjuna is now cutting down enemies more decisively than before, and Sañjaya attributes this change to Arjuna fighting with Kṛṣṇa as his charioteer and guide.